How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Plum-headed Finch

Emblema modestum

The Plum-headed Finch is a small, gregarious estrildid finch of eastern Australia, recognized by its white-barred plumage and the male's distinct deep-claret crown.

What it sounds like

A soft, high-pitched 'twit' or 'pit' contact call and a quiet, complex warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It displays sexual dimorphism, with the male possessing a black chin spot (bib) and a larger plum-colored crown patch than the female.
Unlike many other finches, this species primarily forages on the ground for fallen grass seeds rather than stripping them from seed heads.
They are highly nomadic and will travel long distances in large flocks to find water and ripening grass seeds following rainfall.
Nests are typically bottle-shaped with a side entrance, constructed from green grass and lined with feathers or plant down.
During the breeding season, they are known to be less territorial than other Australian finches, sometimes nesting in loose colonies.

Habitat

Grassy woodlands, scrublands, and riparian thickets near permanent water sources.

Range

Eastern Australia, from the Cape York Peninsula through central Queensland to northern New South Wales.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Painted FiretailEmblema pictum Star FinchEmblema ruficauda

Heard a Plum-headed Finch?

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Identify a bird by its song